Double Bass Making Gluing Clamps

[DylanD]

I am looking to make my own clamps for seam repairs. I think I need:
threaded rods
wingnuts
maybe washers
and circles of wood...

I am not sure where to find the wooden round pieces...
a hardware store? what would I ask for? does anyone know what those would be used for in the non-music world?

also...what strength of hide glue is most appropriate for seams?
thanks.

 

[Ruckus_Instrmts]

I did this very thing not too long ago.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f3/top-back-seem-separation-help-options-669120/

I used threaded rod, wing nuts, washers, and the wooden round pieces i cut from a large poplar dowel. Make sure your holes in the dowels are snug to the rod otherwise they just lean over and slip off. I also recommend lining the dowels with something like the cork liners they sell for drawers. One more tip, I taped off the edges of the seam so I wouldn't have to wipe the excess glue off the instrument. Instead, peel the tape and clean up is done.
Gram strength that I used was 192.

 

[RCWilliams]

1.5" hardwood dowell cut to 1.5" lengths, all thread (3/6" ) T nuts aand wing nuts along with the washers. I also suggest you glue cork on the inside face of the spool clamps to protect your plates.

 

[Cody Sisk]

You can also use a keyhole saw to get the round wood ends. This way, they are already drilled for your threaded rod. Think biscuit cutter...

 

[Jake deVilliers]

You can also use a keyhole saw to get the round wood ends. This way, they are already drilled for your threaded rod. Think biscuit cutter...

I'm assuming you meant 'hole saw' - that's what I used to make my spool clamps.

 

[Matthew Tucker]

I think cork-faced SQUARE wood ends work just as well, if not better. A lot less work. They just don't look as cool.

 

[RCWilliams]

here's one for you, spring loaded quick release bass clamp

 

[Jake deVilliers]

I think cork-faced SQUARE wood ends work just as well, if not better. A lot less work. They just don't look as cool.

I agree that square functions just as well but they're certainly not less work. You have to make at least two cuts and then drill a hole for the ready rod - with a hole saw you just drill once. Its really easy to glue a sheet cork face to the plywood first and then drill. BAM!

 

[Jake deVilliers]

here's one for you, spring loaded quick release bass clamp

That's very nice!

 

[1st Bass]

I agree that square functions just as well but they're certainly not less work. You have to make at least two cuts and then drill a hole for the ready rod - with a hole saw you just drill once. Its really easy to glue a sheet cork face to the plywood first and then drill. BAM!

Or just glue the cork to long strips of 1 x 2, and slice 'em off with a radial arm saw, then stack drill them in your drill press. No waste, to speak of, and very fast production.

But I'm partial to round...

 

[forester]

+1
on a handfull of square ones with the batch.
the glue strength ques. is harder to answer...you will have to experiment on your own..(now that you have tools a willingness) there's a lot of threads on glue recipes..once you become familiar with the it, you have to go out of your way to screw up,and we will let you know that too.

 

[RCWilliams]

the square ones when gang cut make it easier to rabbit the edge and set an automatic pressure point alignment with the edge of the plate, also helping to keep the all thread away form finished surface.

 

[fdeck]

Just a note about threaded rod. You can get really long pieces of it in the electrical department at Home Depot, for a lot cheaper than the shorter pieces sold in the bolt & nut department. I think the electricians use threaded rod to hang conduits from ceilings in commercial installations.

 

[DylanD]

Thanks for all the responses. I made some out of handrails (from the bulk section at Home depot) cut into small pieces. I used self adhesive rubber pads(made for furniture) on the insides...happened to be the perfect diameter. They look great...haven't tried them yet.
those spring ones look quite nice, by the way.